Chapter 13. Colonel Fitzwilliam’s Argument
As the two men road toward Hunsford, the colonel in his red coat asked, “Why did you inform Lady Catherine we were going for a ride rather than to call on her parson?”
“We are going for a ride, Richard. As Zeus and Ares carry us across the meadows and we find ourselves near to the parsonage, I believe it proper to call because I made acquaintance of both Mr and Mrs Collins last fall during my stay in Hertfordshire. Lady Catherine cannot object; most especially because her sending Wickham into Hertfordshire to raise mischief resulted in Mrs Collins’ sister being disgraced and banished, her mother dying, and Wickham being sent into the regulars. ”
Richard’s face turned to stone with Darcy’s explanation, but he asked, “Is the girl well? Did she find refuge somewhere?”
Darcy glanced at his cousin and replied, “I do not know. Discuss the subject with Mrs Collins but do so gently.”
Nodding his understanding, Richard said, “I still think of Miss Easley every time I approach Matlock House in London. Her father, may he live for many years and suffer with his gout, threw her out after hearing mere accusations. I could find no trace of her when I returned.”
“I am sorry Richard,” Darcy stated simply but with honest regret in his voice.
Several years earlier, his cousin fell in love, but the young woman had been compromised by another gentleman while Richard was fighting in the many wars that plagued Britain.
Since then, Richard had not courted any woman.
They rode for a time, crossed a meadow and jumped the fences before halting outside the parsonage.
They tied the horses to a post and knocked on the door where a slender chambermaid allowed them entrance and led them to a parlour.
The room was small and furnished with worn, but clean and sturdy furniture.
There were candlesticks on the mantle before a mirror and sconces with more candles; the inhabitants would be able to read easily at night if desired.
“Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam,” the young maid announced at the door as the two gentlemen entered the room.
Colonel Fitzwilliam stepped into the room, and noted the young woman who stepped forward, to receive Darcy’s greeting. There was another young woman, prettier than their hostess, who stood back and waited to be introduced.
“Mrs Collins, thank you for allowing us to call,” Darcy said before he motioned toward his cousin. “May I present my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.”
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, be welcome in our home. I am certain my husband will be pleased to hear you called,” replied Mrs Collins.
“I met Mr Collins at Rosings Park just days ago,” the colonel replied.
Charlotte turned toward Elizabeth, “Colonel Fitzwilliam, allow me to introduce my friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who is visiting from London.”
“Miss Bennet, I am pleased to make your acquaintance,” the colonel said.
“And I am pleased to meet you as well,” Elizabeth replied with a smile, and the colonel noticed there was no introduction between his cousin and the young lady.
“Shall we be seated?” Mrs Collins asked.
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s attention was captured again when his shy cousin moved to sit across from Miss Elizabeth in a pair of chairs close to the sofa where Mrs Collins indicated he should sit.
During the entire visit, Darcy ignored Mrs Collins and his cousin, giving all his attention and conversation with Miss Bennet though the young woman made certain to include each person in conversation.
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During their ride back from Hunsford, Colonel Fitzwilliam remained silent, waiting for Darcy to begin any conversation about the young lady.
“Are you going to speak before we sit at Lady Catherine’s table for dinner?” Darcy asked finally.
“I am waiting for you to share…”
Darcy snorted and threw his strongest glare toward Richard. “Whatever do you mean? Do not hide your meanings…”
“Perhaps you failed to notice your rude behaviour in the parlour at Hunsford,” Richard replied.
“Whatever do you mean?” Darcy demanded, pulling Ares to a stop while the colonel continued on Zeus for a time. Finally, Darcy motioned his mount forward and Ares caught up with the other horse in less than a minute.
“Darcy, you ignored our hostess the entire visit. Fortunately, she appeared to be amused by your attention to Miss Bennet and when I made comments about insensate ‘boars’ of the porcine variety, she smiled and admonished me to protect her friend’s reputation.”
Now Richard laughed to see his cousin blush to be compared to livestock for a moment but then he asked, “Now, tell me how long you have known Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”
His face blanked for an instant but then Darcy answered, “I have known Miss Bennet for more than a year. Her uncle is Edward Gardiner, a reputable tradesman, in London.”
“A tradesman?” Richard asked, faking his offense. When Darcy’s face grew sour, his cousin laughed again and added, “I have no objections, Darcy. Fighting against Bonaparte, I have cast aside all those notions of class.”
“Her father is a gentleman in Hertfordshire…a landowner,” Darcy explained. “The family is…estranged.”
“Ha!” Richard laughed harshly. “Name me a single family that has not estranged someone in their family tree. If not for Mr de Bourgh’s will, neither of us would aid Lady Catherine in her misadventures.”
“You speak true,” Darcy replied.
“And your intentions for Miss Bennet?”
“Before Christmas, I shall ask her to be my wife. Her sister died in June, and she must remain in mourning until October.”
Now Richard stopped his horse and asked, “Darcy, explain immediately how you and your young lady who is observing mourning, came to be in same village during August. There must be nothing improper!”
“Richard, Miss Elizabeth is wonderful girl, and she will be my wife. And Georgiana admires her greatly! And I would never…she has had too much pain from scoundrels already.”
“Scoundrels?” asked Richard. “Do you mean Wickham?”
“Not Wickham…” Darcy sighed and confessed, “It was Bingley…”
“Bingley? Charles Bingley? The same man on our list for Cousin Anne?” Richard roared.
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That evening, Richard peered at his cousin in the dining room after the ladies withdrew. Darcy recognized his cousin’s observations and remained silent until he judged Richard was reaching the end of his patience.
Colonel Fitzwilliam asked, “What do you know about this Charles Bingley? You left him on the list but now I discover you have objections to him as a potential husband.”
“I left him on the list because I wished to hear his reasons for interest in Anne de Bourgh. Of course, this was before I knew Miss Elizabeth was in the neighbourhood,” Darcy explained.
“It would cause her pain if he were at Rosings, and she learned of his presence or crossed paths with the man in the park.”
Richard sat his finger of brandy on the table and demanded, “What has the man done?”
“Last fall, I went with Charles when he took a possession of an estate in Hertfordshire. There was a family in the town with one particularly beautiful English rose that Bingley courted. After a month, everyone in the community expected them to marry. But the morning after he hosted a ball at his manor, Charles suddenly decamped and returned to London, leaving the girl with no recourse. Her father discovered that his daughter was despoiled and cast her from the house.”
He caught his cousin’s eye and continued, “I understand Miss Elizabeth appeared in Hertfordshire and rescued her sister from the hedgerows and carried her back to safety in London.”
“And this sister…”
“Her name was Jane, Miss Jane Bennet,” Darcy replied. “And she died of a broken heart in June.”
Like his own lost love, the beautiful young woman had been cast aside by her family and died. With too many memories in his heart, Richard bowed his head and left the room, retiring for the evening. Mr Darcy made Richard’s excuses to Aunt Catherine, Anne, and Mr George Clark, who was visiting.
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Elizabeth’s visit with Mrs Collins was everything her relatives hoped, restful and healing.
Mr Darcy’s sudden appearance contributed to the healing in her heart.
The prospect of his company for the remainder of the month left a smile on her face at the oddest moments.
Even Mr Collins noticed the change in his cousin and spoke of it to his wife saying, “Mrs Collins, I believe Cousin Elizabeth has begun to set aside her grief.”
“You are correct, sir,” Mrs Collins replied simply.
“I am certain this sudden change can be attributed to the beauty of Rosings Park and the fresh airs in Kent as opposed to crowded, noisy London.”
Charlotte wisely agreed with her husband and did not discuss Mr Darcy’s attentions to Elizabeth when she informed him that Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy had called at the parsonage in his absence.
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The next morning, Elizabeth Bennet and Henry Jones were surprized to find Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam approaching them on the path from Rosings Park.
“It’s the colonel his self!” declared Henry seeing Colonel Fitzwilliam’s red coat in the morning mists. “Can I ask him about battles, miss? About cannons and swords?”
“I am certain the colonel will be glad to discuss those things with you, Henry,” Elizabeth assured him.
When the two gentlemen reached the waiting woman and boy, Mr Darcy doffed his hat to Elizabeth and offered his arm, saying, “Shall we continue your walk, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Good morning, young fellow,” the colonel addressed the boy. “And what is your name?”
“I am Henry Jones, me da is Tim Jones and he farms Runnin’ Lamb Farm,” the boy replied.
“And you are the guide for Miss Bennet through the woods and meadows?”
“Yes sir. I get a penny and lunch every day for walking with the miss.”